West Jersey Reading Council Fall Conference

"I don't know what to write. I didn't do anything this weekend. I don't have anything I want to write about." I'm sure this sounds familiar and is getting old! This session will share easy techniques for making writing more meaningful and engaging for students and for providing strategies that help students generate their own ideas for writing. You will leave feeling empowered to start writing off right next year!

Appropriate for Primary, Elementary, and Middle School

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Appropriate for Elementary, Middle School, and High School

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Participants will be presented with information on how a pen pal exchange between pre-service teachers and elementary school students made a positive impact on learning and on relationships.

Appropriate for Elementary

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Discover how small, intentional changes to your read-aloud routine can make a big impact on student engagement and foundational literacy skills. This session offers joyful, science-backed strategies teachers can use immediately—no curriculum overhaul required.

Appropriate for Primary and Elementary

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In this 50-minute workshop, participants will explore how picture books can be used to spark and develop speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills for ESL and Literacy students of all ages and levels. Seasoned ESL/Literacy tutor and picture book author, Angela De Groot, will share her experiences and strategies for using picture books to promote a positive learning environment, illicit and develop language production, expand vocabulary, and enhance comprehension. The workshop will conclude with participants working in pairs with a picture book to brainstorm ideas and strategies that may make a big impact in their classrooms.

Appropriate for all levels.

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This interactive session examines the origins and development of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) educational mandates—from the first federal policies recognizing AAPI students’ needs to the state-level laws currently shaping instruction. Participants will: Trace the Historical Timeline Review landmark legislation (e.g., Lau v. Nichols, 1974, Title VI under CFDA, state bylaws in CA and NJ) and how these laws emerged from civil rights activism and demographic shifts. Discuss pivotal court cases and policy briefs that first acknowledged AAPI English learners as a distinct group requiring tailored support. Analyze Key Policy Drivers Explore how demographic data, advocacy by community organizations, and research on language access influenced the creation of AAPI mandates. Examine how stakeholders (families, civil rights groups, researchers) collaborated to shape policy decisions at the district, state, and federal levels. Connect Mandates to Classroom Practice Identify the specific requirements of current AAPI mandates (e.g., multilingual communications, culturally relevant pedagogy, translation and interpretation services). Reflect on real‐world examples of districts that have successfully implemented AAPI-focused initiatives (e.g., dual-language programs, family engagement protocols in heritage languages). Align with “Learning Reimagined” Reimagine instructional practices to be more inclusive of AAPI histories and perspectives. Brainstorm ways to integrate AAPI content into K–6 curriculum—literacy units, social studies lessons, and family outreach strategies—so that heritage, culture, and language are honored in everyday instruction. By the end of the session, educators will have a clear understanding of how AAPI mandates originated, their relevance today, and how to implement changes in classroom practices to reflect the cultural assets of AAPI students and families.

Appropriate for Primary, Elementary, and Middle School

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Based on decades of research and personal experience, a set of strategies has emerged that will increase the power of any writing program or approach. They are the secret ingredients for not only improving students’ writing but also significantly increasing their engagement. Join this workshop to learn these simple techniques that transform writing instruction from good to great.

Appropriate for All Levels

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In this interactive session, educators will explore how book clubs—when supported with purposeful conversation structures and responsive writing opportunities—can spark powerful literacy growth for all learners.This session will introduce high-leverage, easy-to-implement strategies that foster rich dialogue, critical thinking, and authentic written response. Participants will learn how to structure student-led book clubs, use targeted prompts to deepen collaborative conversations, and guide students in crafting thoughtful, text-based responses that reflect voice and understanding. Through modeling, reflection, and practical tools, educators will walk away with instructional moves that elevate student engagement and build a community of readers and thinkers.

Appropriate for Elementary and Middle School

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This presentation will showcase various strategies and activities for incorporating phonological awareness practice in developmentally appropriate and culturally responsive ways. 

Appropriate for Primary

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In this presentation, Trevor will share a simple, accessible approach to teaching narrative structure that can help all students start to use comprehension strategies purposefully and effectively to build coherent mental representations of fiction and non-fiction narrative texts. Trevor will also share how the understanding of narrative structure can be used to launch productive conversations, write meaningful reading responses and engaging narratives. Numerous resources to help teach these concepts will be provided.

Appropriate for Primary, Elementary, and Middle School

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All readers need purposeful, focused practice. This session dives into the power of Repeated Readings, a proven routine to boost fluency, accuracy, and comprehension. Participants will explore the research behind why repetition works, observe what an effective Repeated Reading routine looks like in action, and walk away with a ready-to-use plan that can be implemented immediately in any classroom. Whether you're new to this strategy or looking to refine your practice, you'll leave with tools to help your students become more confident, fluent readers.

Appropriate for Primary and Elementary

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